Microtransactions in NBA2K have gotten ridiculous

When you have to pay virtual coins just to get a haircut… a haircut in a game. Then we have a problem with a company that used to be revolutionary.

Virtual Concepts better known as 2K is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive.They used to be that high-risk company that released top video games at low prices, games like ESPN NFL 2K5 that nearly put Electronic Arts’ Madden series out of business.

These guys that were so popular are now criticized for every move they make with their NBA2K series and rightfully so with NBA2K18.

The game itself is one big advertisement that promotes everything from cereal, chips, soda, and shoes. You can’t even play MyCareer without running into your “best friend” B-Fresh eating Reese’s Puffs in your house.

Your “best friend” in NBA2K18; photo from reddit.com

The advertisements effect the online game modes as 2K won’t blur out the background billboards of the advertisements as that would mean they would lose money. The ads get so bad that you can’t even skip cutscenes this year on MyCareer just because you see a box of cereal.

That doesn’t begin to explain the amount of microtransactions in the game this year. Players are use to having microtransactions to upgrade their players and those who didn’t buy the coins would “grin” for them.

In order to get a decent amount of “VC”(the name for the currency in the game) you would have to spend $20 for 75,000 VC and that’s not the highest amount you can get. If you spend $100, you will get 450,000 VC.

Now, we have to buy our haircuts and tattoos on our virtual players with the fact that its even harder to grin for the in game currency (you earn 1,000 VC per NBA game played, it takes over 10,000 VC just to upgrade your player).

The amount you pay for this game (which is $60) is the main reason why microtransactions should NOT be in this game. It’s totally reasonable for an app to have microtransactions as their game is usually free and if not free, it’s between 99 cents and $3.

However, when you shell out $60 of your own money, you expect to be able to compete with everyone and have a goodtime. Now, 2K excepts you to buy the game with the same gameplay as the year’s pervious game, just with a few polished details.

The game has been out for over six weeks and due to online issues, patches to fix the game (some think 2K released a “beta’ but that’s another story) and SO MANY ADS… The game is just not fun anymore.

It’s a good thing Assassin’s Creed Origins and Fortnite are alternatives to 2K and at least they won’t be begging you to spend money on virtual currency.